Koji mold-origin phospholipase a2

ABSTRACT

It is intended to provide koji mold-origin phospholipase A 2  and a DNA encoding it. Namely, phospholipase A 2  comprising the following protein (a) or (b): (a) a protein having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2; and (b) a protein having an amino acid sequence derived from an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 by a partial modification and serving as phospholipase A 2 .

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to phospholipase A₂ derived from Aspergillus and a DNA encoding the same, and uses thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

Among filamentous fungi, in particular, Aspergillus including Aspergillus oryzae (yellow Aspergillus) etc. has been traditionally used in brewing industry in Japan for producing sake, bean paste, soy sauce, mirin, and the like, and directly eaten. Aspergillus is a safe source of genes listed up in GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by US FDA (Food and drug Administration).

Therefore, in the safety test such as a chronic toxicity test required when genes derived from general fungi are used for foods, etc., in the case of genes derived from general fungi, the cost is about 1 billion yen. On the other hand, in the case of genes that are the above-mentioned GRAS genes, it is advantageous that the cost can be reduced to about one-third of the cost and further that it takes a shorter time to conduct the test as compared with the case of general genes.

Thus, filamentous fungi, in particular, Aspergillus could provide a source of genes with a high utility value from the safe and economical viewpoint.

Therefore, by clarifying information on the genome DNA of these fungi and clarifying the functions of genes encoded thereby, it is possible to provide an effective using method of safe gene resources, for example, production of materials with the use of biotechnology, in food industry; and to provide useful information for screening various kinds of genes in the field of agricultural chemicals and medicine.

Furthermore, it would provide a useful tool for analyzing genome information of grain contamination fungi such as closely-related species including, for example, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, etc. and human-infecting bacteria.

As a result of investigation under the above-mentioned circumstances, the present inventors have succeeded in analyzing the genome of Aspergillus oryzae, that is, a kind of Aspergillus and have determined the base sequence thereof (and an amino acid sequence encoded by the base sequence) and various functions, etc. Based on such results, the present inventors disclosed various DNAs derived from Aspergillus oryzae, as well as a primer set for amplifying a gene of filamentous fungi in GRAS grade including a nucleotide sequence prepared by these DNAs and a probe for detecting genes of filamentous fungi, etc. in the prior patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-403261).

The present inventors have conducted a further investigation based on the resultant genome information on Aspergillus. That is to say, the present inventors paid attention to phospholipase A₂ and identified a sequence encoding phospholipase A₂ from the resultant base sequences. The present inventors have also tried to identify an amino acid sequence of a protein encoded by the sequence. Note here that phospholipase A₂ is an enzyme for hydrolyzing the ester bond at the 2 position of glycerophospholipid so as to separate between fatty acid and lysophospholipid. The presence of phospholipase A₂ derived from animals has been traditionally known and such phospholipase A₂ has been widely applied in food industry including manufacture of lysolecithin as an emulsifying agent (see, for example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H10-042884), a degumming step of fats and oils (see, for example, Industrial Enzymology 2nd ed., p 299-300 (1996)), breadmaking (see, for example, Japanese Patent Unexamined No. S60-2135), functional phospholipid (see, for example, Oleo Science Vol. 2, No. 1 (2002)), and the like. Furthermore, it can be used for development of anti-inflammatory agents, and therapeutic agents for septicemia, rheumatism, asthma, ischemic disease, ischemic reperfusion disorder, and the like. Recently, however, enzymes derived from animals have been tended to be avoided by consumers and food manufacturing companies due to their origins. Enzymes derived from microorganisms that are regarded as being safer have been demanded. In recent years, phospholipase A₂ derived from microorganism has been studied, an enzyme of Streptomyces violaceoruber that is a kind of Streptomyces has been found (see Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 6-327468). In more recent years, an enzyme derived from Tuber borchii that is a kind of filamentous fungi (see Soragni et al., The EMBO Journal, 20 (18) 5079-5090 (2001)), and an enzyme derived from filamentous fungi of Helicosporium sp. (Wakatsuki et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1522, 74, (2001)) have been reported. However, these microorganisms have never been used for foods and therefore, enzymes derived from safer fungi have been demanded.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide phospholipase A₂ derived from Aspergillus and DNA encoding phospholipase A₂ as well as a method for producing phospholipase A₂ derived from Aspergillus, and the like.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have earnestly investigated, and as a result, succeeded in finding two kinds of sequences (hereinafter, referred to as “spaA gene” and “spaB gene”) which have higher homology to phospholipase A₂ genes derived from the previously reported microorganism in genome of Aspergillus. When expressing two kinds of proteins encoded by the sequences (hereinafter, referred to as “phospholipase A₂-spaA” and “phospholipase A₂-spaB”) by using Escherichia coil and Aspergillus as a host, both proteins showed the phospholipase A₂ activity. From the result, it was experimentally confirmed that the two sequences encoded phospholipase A₂. On the other hand, the present inventors have succeeded in identifying the coding region in the two kinds of sequences and have found that two kinds of proteins encoded by the sequences have novel amino acid sequences. Thus, the present inventors succeeded in identifying phospholipase A₂ gene derived from Aspergillus and the amino acid sequence thereof for the first time.

The present invention was completed based on the above-mentioned results and includes the following configurations.

[1] Phospholipase A₂ Consisting of a Protein Described in the Following (a) or (b):

(a) a protein having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; or

(b) a protein having an amino acid sequence obtained by modifying a part of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and functioning as phospholipase A₂.

[2] Phospholipase A₂ Consisting of a Protein Described in the Following (c) or (d):

(c) a protein having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2; or

(d) a protein having an amino acid sequence obtained by modifying a part of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, and functioning as phospholipase A₂.

[3] A DNA Described in the Following (A) or (B):

(A) a DNA encoding phospholipase A₂ described in [1]; or

(B) a DNA which hybridizes under stringent conditions to the DNA described in (A) and encodes a protein functioning as phospholipase A₂.

[4] A DNA Described in the Following (C) or (D):

(C) a DNA encoding phospholipase A₂ described in [2]; or

(D) a DNA which hybridizes under stringent conditions to the DNA described in (C) and encodes a protein functioning as phospholipase A₂.

[5] A DNA Having Any One of the Following Sequences (i) to (vi):

(i) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3;

(ii) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4;

(iii) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5;

(iv) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6;

(v) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7; and

(vi) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.

[6] A Vector Carrying the DNA Described in Any of [3] to [5].

[7] Filamentous Fungi Into Which the DNA Described in Any of [3] to [5] is Exogenously Introduced.

[8] A Method for Producing Phospholipase A₂, the Method Comprising the Following Steps (1) and (2):

(1) a step of culturing the filamentous fungi described in [7] under conditions where a protein encoded by the DNA can be produced; and

(2) a step of recovering the produced protein.

The “DNA” of the present invention is not limited to a double strand DNA but is intended to include a single strand DNA (sense chain and antisense chain) constituting the double strand DNA. Furthermore, the DNA of the present invention includes a DNA having an arbitrary base sequence considering the degeneracy of codons. Furthermore, the form of the DNA is not limited and may include a cDNA, a genome DNA and a synthetic DNA.

The “DNA encoding a protein” of the present invention is a DNA from which a protein is obtained when it is expressed. The “DNA” includes not only a DNA having a base sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence of the protein but also a DNA obtained by adding a sequence that does not encode an amino acid sequence to the DNA having a base sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence of the protein (examples of the latter DNA includes a DNA including one or a plurality of introns).

The “phospholipase A₂ derived from Aspergillus” of the present invention includes phospholipase A₂ prepared by using Aspergillus as a starting material or phospholipase A₂ prepared by using information (amino acid sequence or DNA sequence) of phospholipase A₂ carried by Aspergillus in the process of obtaining phospholipase A₂. Examples of such phospholipase A₂ include not only phospholipase A₂ prepared from Aspergillus by using a physical technique, a biochemical technique and the like, but also phospholipase A₂ prepared by a genetic engineering technique using an amino acid sequence or a DNA sequence of the phospholipase A₂ disclosed in the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an expression vector pNGspaA.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an expression vector pNGspaB.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the phospholipase activities (in culture supernatant and in disrupted fungus suspension) of phospholipase A₂-spaA transformant and phospholipase A₂-spaB transformant.

FIG. 4 is a view showing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of phospholipase A₂-spaA protein purified from a transformant carrying a phospholipase A₂-spaA gene.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the measurement results of phospholipase A2 activity using a culture supernatant of phospholipase A₂-spaA transformant purified by a CM-cellulose column.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Protein)

The first aspect of the present invention relates to phospholipase A₂ derived from Aspergillus. Phospholipase A₂ provided in the present invention includes a protein having, for example, an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2. As shown in the below-mentioned Examples, it has been confirmed that the protein actually exhibits a phospholipase A₂ activity in the expression system using filamentous fungi.

Herein, in general, in a case where a part of the amino acid sequence of a protein is modified, a protein after modification has the same function as that of a protein before modification. That is to say, modification of the amino acid sequence may not substantially affect the function of the protein and the function before modification may be maintained after modification. Taking this fact into consideration, a protein obtained by modifying a part of the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2) of the protein having the above-mentioned phospholipase A₂ activity (hereinafter, referred to as a “modified protein”) may constitute the phospholipase A₂ (protein) of the present invention as long as the function as phospholipase A₂ is maintained. In other words, as long as the function as phospholipase A₂ is maintained, a part of the amino acid sequence is allowed to be modified. Note here that it is preferable that the phospholipase A₂ activity is not decreased as a result of modification, however, somewhat fluctuation (increase or decrease) of the phospholipase A₂ activity is allowed.

The phrase “a part of an amino acid sequence is modified” herein means that one or a plurality of amino acids in the amino acid sequence are deleted, substituted, added and/or inserted. The position of the modification (mutation) of the amino acid sequence is not particularly limited as long as the phospholipase A₂ activity is maintained. Furthermore, modification may be conducted at a plurality of positions. The number of amino acids to be modified may be, for example, the number corresponding to 10% or less of the entire amino acids, preferably the number corresponding to 5% or less of the entire amino acids, and further preferably the number corresponding to 1% or less of the entire amino acids. The above-mentioned modified protein can be formed by a genetic engineering technique, for example, by preparing a nucleic acid fragment which has a sequence obtained by modifying a base sequence coding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 and makes this fragment to express in a suitable expressing system.

Among the protein (including modified protein) of the present invention, the protein of natural Aspergillus can be prepared by operations such as extraction and purification from the Aspergillus. Furthermore, the protein (including modified protein) of the present invention can be prepared by the genetic engineering technique based on information of phospholipase A₂ disclosed herein. For example, a DNA encoding the protein of the present invention is used so as to transform an appropriate host cell and proteins expressed in the transformant are collected, to thus prepare the proteins of the present invention. The collected proteins are appropriately purified in accordance with the purposes. In a case where a protein is prepared as a recombinant protein, various modifications can be conducted. For example, when DNA encoding the protein of the present invention and other appropriate DNA are inserted into the same vector and the vector is used so as to produce a recombinant protein, a recombinant protein in which the protein of the present invention is linked to other peptide or protein can be obtained. Furthermore, modification may be carried out so that addition of a sugar chain and/or lipid or processing of N terminal or C terminal occur. With such a modification, it is possible to simplify extraction and purification of a recombinant protein, or to add the biological functions thereto, and the like.

(DNA Encoding Phospholipase A₂)

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a DNA encoding phospholipase A₂ derived from Aspergillus is provided. Specific examples of such a DNA can include a DNAhaving a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4 or a DNA having a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7. The sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4 is a sequence derived from genome DNA (a phospholipase A₂ gene) encoding phospholipase A₂. The sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 is a sequence obtained by excluding the intron region from the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. Another specific example of the DNA of the present invention can include a DNA having a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, 6 or 8. The base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 is a sequence of DNA including a phospholipase A₂ gene set force in SEQ ID NO: 3 and its putative promoter and terminator regions. Similarly, the base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 is a sequence of DNA including a phospholipase A₂ gene set force in SEQ ID NO: 4 and its putative promoter and terminator regions. Furthermore, the base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 is a sequence of DNA including a DNA set force in SEQ ID NO: 7 (DNA that is a phospholipase A₂ gene from which an intron region is excluded) and its putative promoter and terminator regions. Since these DNAs have ideal combination of a promoter and a terminator and a structural gene, if phospholipase A₂ is produced by using these DNAs, excellent gene expression can be expected. Therefore, an efficient production system of phospholipase A₂ can be constructed.

The above-mentioned DNAs of the present invention can be prepared by appropriately using a probe, a primer, etc. capable of hybridizing specifically to a gene encoding the phospholipase A₂ of the present invention (for example, a DNA having a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4) from an appropriate filamentous fungi genome DNA library or a cDNA library, or a cell extract of filamentous fungi. Note here that a production method of the genome DNA library of filamentous fungi or the cDNA library can be referred to, for example, Molecular Cloning, Third Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York.

Specifically, the DNA of the present invention can be prepared by, for example, the following procedures. First of all, filamentous fungi which are expected to carry a targeted DNA are cultured for a predetermined period of time. And then filtration is conducted so as to collect fungi. The collected fungi are washed and then freeze-dried. Then, the fungus bodies are ground with the use of a mortar, etc. and an appropriate amount of extraction buffer solution (for example, SDS-containing Tris-HCl buffer solution) is added thereto so as to obtain an extraction solution. Then, a genome DNA is extracted and purified by phenol extraction, ethanol precipitation, and the like. By using the thus obtained genome DNA as a template, the PCR method is conducted by using a primer specific to the targeted DNA, so that the targeted DNA can be obtained as an amplification product.

The DNA of the present invention can be also prepared by using an appropriate filamentous fungi genome DNA library or cDNA library if it is available. In accordance with the kinds of libraries to be used, a plaque hybridization technique or a colony hybridization method can be used (see, for example, Molecular Cloning, Third Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York). For example, in a case of the library constructed by using a plasmid, a colony hybridization method is used. For selecting a clone carrying the targeted DNA, a probe having a sequence specific to the DNA of the present invention is used. When the targeted clone is selected, PCR method, etc. using the DNA carried by this clone as a template is conducted by using a primer specific to the sequence of the targeted DNA, so that the DNA of the present invention can be obtained as an amplification product.

The DNA carried by the obtained clone can be subcloned into an appropriate vector so as to be used followingly. Thereby, for example, it is possible to construct a recombinant vector for transformation or a plasmid suitable for decoding a base sequence.

Herein, in general, in a case where a part of a DNA encoding a protein is modified, a protein encoded by the modified DNA may sometimes have the equivalent function to that of a protein encoded by the DNA before modified. That is to say, modification of the DNA sequence does not substantially affect the function of the protein encoded by the DNA and sometimes may maintain the function of the encoded protein before and after modification. Taking this fact into consideration, a DNA having a base sequence obtained by modifying a part of the above-mentioned DNA of the present invention (hereinafter, the DNA will be also referred to as “modified DNA”) can constitute the DNA of the present invention as long as the protein encoded by the DNA has a function as a phospholipase A₂. In other words, as long as the function as phospholipase A₂ of the encoded protein is maintained, a part of the sequence is allowed to be modified. Note here that it is preferable that the phospholipase A₂ activity is not decreased as a result of modification, however, somewhat fluctuation (increase or decrease) of the phospholipase A₂ activity is allowed.

Herein, “a part of DNA . . . is modified” typically denotes that one or a plurality of bases are substituted, deleted, inserted, or added in the base sequence before modification. Such modification may be occurred in a plurality of sites. “A plurality” herein differs depending upon the position to be modified or kinds of modifications, but the plurality of numbers is, for example, 2 to 100, preferably 2 to 50 and more preferably 2 to 10. The above-mentioned modified DNA can be obtained by, for example, a treatment with a restriction enzyme; treatment with exonuclease, DNA ligase, etc; introduction of mutation by a site-directed mutagenesis (Molecular Cloning, Third Edition, Chapter 13, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York); random mutagenesis (Molecular Cloning, Third Edition, Chapter 13, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York), and the like. Furthermore, the modified DNA can be obtained by a well-known method using a mutation treatment, for example, treating filamentous fungi carrying a phospholipase A₂ gene with ultraviolet ray, followed by isolating the modified gene.

Note here that the mutation by substitution, deletion, insertion, insertion, addition, or inversion, etc. of the bases as mentioned above may include naturally occurring mutation based on the individual difference, difference in species or genera of microorganism carrying phospholipase A₂, etc.

An example of a method for preparing the modified DNA can include a method of including: extracting a genome (chromosomal) DNA from naturally occurring Aspergillus (Aspergillus oryzae) carrying a modified DNA; treating the extracted DNA with an appropriate restriction enzyme; and then selecting and isolating a DNA that hybridizes under stringent conditions in a screening using a DNA of the present invention (for example, DNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4) or a part thereof as a probe. When a genome (chromosomal) DNA library including a clone carrying a modified DNA can be used, the DNA can be obtained by screening using the DNA of the present invention (for example, a DNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3) or a part thereof as a probe under stringent conditions.

The DNA of the present invention may include a DNA that hybridizes to the DNA of the present invention (for example, a DNA having a sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4, or a DNA obtained by modifying the DNA as mentioned above) under stringent conditions and encodes a protein that functions as phospholipase A₂. The “stringent conditions” herein denote a condition in which a so-called specific hybrid is formed and a non-specific hybrid is not formed. The stringent conditions fluctuate depending upon the length of the sequence or kinds of constituting bases. However, an example of the stringent conditions includes a condition in which a DNA is incubated in a hybridization solution (50% formaldehyde, 10×SSC (0.15 M NaCl, 15 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.0), 5× Denhardt solution, 1% SDS, 10% dextran sulfate, 10 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA, 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.5)) at 42° C., followed by washing with 0.1×SSC and 0.1% SDS at 68° C. A more preferable example of the stringent conditions can include a condition using a hybridization solution (50% formaldehyde, 5×SSC (0.15 M NaCl, 15 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.0), 1× Denhardt solution, 1% SDS, 10% dextran sulfate, 10 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA, 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.5)).

(Vector)

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vector carrying the DNA of the present invention (including a modified DNA) is provided. Such a vector is prepared by introducing the DNA of the present invention into an existing vector or a vector obtained by adding modification to the existing vector. Any vectors may be used as a starting material in principle as long as they can carry the DNA of the present invention, however, an appropriate vector can be selected in accordance with the purpose of use (cloning, expression of polypeptide), while considering the kinds of host cells. The introduction of the DNA of the present invention into a vector can be conducted by a well-known method using a restriction enzyme and DNA ligase (see, Molecular Cloning, Third Edition, 1.84, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York).

Note here that when a DNA that includes also a promoter region (for example, a DNA having a sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 6 and 8) is constructed, a recombinant vector may be constructed by incorporating a separately prepared promoter region and other regions of the DNA into a vector. In such a case, as long as a promoter function is appropriately exhibited, other sequences may be intervened between both regions (the promoter region and the other regions) in the vector. Furthermore, a vector carrying the promoter region may be constructed firstly and then ligated to the other regions.

Typically, a vector for transformation contains a phospholipase A₂ gene (for example, a DNAhaving a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3), a promoter and a terminator. In order to achieve an appropriate transcription of a structural gene by a promoter, a promoter, a gene of phospholipase A₂ and a terminator are arranged successively from the upper stream toward the lower stream. A selection marker, a sequence having an enhancer function, and a sequence encoding a signal peptide may be contained in the vector.

(Transformant)

The vector for transformation can be used for transforming filamentous fungi. That is to say, by using the above-mentioned vector for transformation, a preparation method of the transformed filamentous fungi can be constructed. With such a preparation method, filamentous fungi into which the DNA of the present invention is exogeneously introduced can be obtained. The thus obtained transformed filamentous fungi can be used for production of phospholipase A₂. Specifically, by culturing transformed filamentous fungi into which the DNA of the present invention is exogeneously introduced under conditions where a protein (phospholipase A₂) encoded by the DNA, phospholipase A₂ can be produced. Any appropriate culture media can be used in accordance with a host to be used. For example, various kinds of commercially available culture media or culture media to which ingredient necessary for growth, selection and promotion of expression of protein, for example, arginine, uridine, and the like are added can be used.

From the culture medium solution or fungus bodies after being cultured for a predetermined period of time, targeted protein (phospholipase A₂) can be collected. When the proteins are produced outside fungus bodies, the proteins can be collected from the culture medium solution. In other case, the proteins can be collected from fungus bodies. When the proteins are collected from the culture medium solution, for example, after insolubles are removed by filtration and centrifugation of the culture supernatant, the targeted proteins can be obtained by isolation and purification by combining salting out such as ammonium sulfate precipitation, etc., dialysis, various chromatography, and the like. On the other hand, when the proteins can be collected from the fungus bodies, for example, the targeted proteins can be obtained by isolation and purification as mentioned above after the fungus bodies are ground by a pressure treatment, ultrasonic treatment, etc. Note here that after the fungus bodies are collected from a culture medium solution by filtration, centrifugation, etc. in advance, the above-mentioned series of steps (girding of fungus bodies, isolation and purification) may be conducted. Note here that since the phospholipase A₂ of the present invention is generally produced outside the fungus bodies, the isolation and purification thereof can be conducted relatively easily.

The kinds of host filamentous fungi to be used for transformation are not particularly limited. Filamentous fungi classified in genera of Aspergillus (Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus sojae, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus kawachii, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nomius, Aspergillus fumigatus, and the like), Penicillium, Trichoderma, Rhizopus, Mucor, Fusarium or the like, can be used. Preferably, filamentous fungi in Aspergillus genera is used. Among them, Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus niger is preferably used from the viewpoint of safety.

The vector for transformation can be introduced (transformed) into the host filamentous fungi by a well-known method. For example, it can be conducted by a method by Turner et al. using, for example, fungus body as a protoplast (see Gene, 36, 321-331 (1985)). Besides, a method by Gomi et al. (Agric. Biol. Chem., 51, 323-328 (1987)) may be employed.

EXAMPLE

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Note here that various kinds of genetic engineering techniques in Examples were conducted in accordance with the method described in Current protocols in molecular biology (edited by Frederick M. Ausubel et al., 1987) mentioned above.

Example 1 Production Method of Whole-Genome Shotgun Library

1. Preparation of Insert Side

(1) Obtaining of Chromosomal DNA

Spores of filamentous fungi, Aspergillus oryzae RIB-40 strain (ATCC 42149) were inoculated in a YPD culture medium (0.5% yeast extract, 1% peptone and 2% glucose) and cultured with shaking ovemight at 30° C. Thereafter, a genome DNA was extracted in accordance with a method by Iimura (Argric. Biol. Chem. 323-328, 51 (1987)). In order to exclude a mitochondrial DNA mixed in the genome DNA, purification by cesium chloride ultracentrifugation was carried out so as to obtain only a chromosomal DNA in accordance with the method by Watson et al. (Methods Enzymol. 57-75 118 (1986)).

(2) Fragmentation of Chromosomal DNA

The obtained pure chromosomal DNA was placed in a DNA fragmentation device HydroShear (TOMY SEIKO Co., Ltd.) so as to form the chromosomal DNA into fragments of about 1-2 kb.

(3) End Treatment of Fragmented DNA

The fragmented chromosomal DNA was treated with BAL31 nuclease (TAKARA) and then the end thereof was blunted by treatment with a Klenow Fragment (TAKARA).

(4) Addition of Adaptor to the End

To both ends of the end-blunted chromosomal DNA fragment, an adaptor consisting of (P)5′-CGAGAGCGGCCGCTAC-3′ and (P)5′-GTAGCGGCCGCTC-3′ was ligated by using T4 DNA ligase (TAKARA).

2. Transformation

After pUC19 was cut with a restriction enzyme SalI (TAKARA), dT was inserted into the part cut with SalI by using Taq DNA polymerase (Roche Diagnostics K.K.). The thus produced plasmid was dephospholylated by a treatment using Alkaline Phosphatase (TAKARA) and used as a vector. The vector and the above produced chromosomal DNA fragment were ligated to each other by using T4 DNA Ligase and transformation was conducted by electroporation in Escherichia coli DH10B (Gibco).

3. Determination of Base Sequence

The full length of the insertion fragment of the plasmid DNA including a site where a sequencing primer was annealed was amplified by culturing Escherichia coli transformant in a 2×YP medium at 37° C. for 10 hours so as to collect fungi, followed by heat-treating in sterile water at 99° C. for 10 minutes so as to obtain a supernatant; and carrying out PCR using the supernatant 30 cycles of reactions at 98° C. for 20 seconds and at 68° C. for 2 minutes. The obtained DNA fragment was used as template for Sangaer method so as to carry out a sequence reaction by using M13 universal primer or M13 reverse primer and PRISM Dye-Terminator Sequencing Kit (Perkin Elmer) in accordance with the instruction attached to the kit. Sequence reaction product was subjected to gel filtration etc. so as to remove unreacted Dye-terminator and thereafter the base sequence of DNA fragment was decoded by using 3700 DNA Sequencer (Perkin Elmer). Waveform data output from the 3700 DNA Sequencer was analyzed again by using Phred (Phil Green), vector and adaptor sequences were removed, followed by assembling by SPS Phrap (Southwest Parallel Software Inc.) so as to construct Contig sequence of Aspergillus genome DNA base sequence.

Example 2 Identification of Gene

Identification of gene from a genome DNA base sequence was conducted by the following technique. In the technique of identifying genes, with respect to the contig sequence of the genome DNA base sequence, the combination of a gene region prediction system GeneDecoder based on algorithm by Kiyoshi Asai et al. (Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing 98, 228-239) and a gene region prediction system ALN based on algorithm (Bioinformatics 2000 16: 190-202) by Osamu Goto was used while considering the homology between sequence information on the previously obtained EST and the amino acid sequence database of the well-known protein. Furthermore, for predicting a tRNA gene, tRNA-scan was used.

<1> “Extraction of BLAST Homologous Gene Candidate Region”

A region having a high homology to the amino acid sequence of the known protein was extracted from the contig sequence of the genome DNA base sequence. The homology of amino acid sequence can be determined by algorithm BLAST by Karlin and Altschul (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sei. USA 87:2264-2268, 1990, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sei. USA 90:5873-5877, 1993). Based on this algorithm, a program called BLASTX was developed (Altschul et al. J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410, 1990). When the genome DNA base sequence is translated into the amino acid sequence, a region having high homology can be directly retrieved. The specific technique of these analysis methods is well known (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). In this technique, by searching the BLASTX under the conditions that the contig sequence of the genome DNA base sequence is used as a query sequence and that SWISSPROT version 39 (Bairoch, A. & Apweiler, R. Nucleic Acids Res. 28, 45-48 (2000).) and NRaa are used as databases, and then a region having an E-value (i.e., index of homology in BLAST algorithm) of 10⁻³⁰ or less is extracted (note here that as the E-value is small, the homology is high). From these regions, BLAST homologous gene candidate regions are extracted by giving high priority to a part having high homology so that the candidate regions are not overlapped with each other.

<2> “Extract of ALN Gene Candidate Region”

Among the BLAST homologous gene candidate regions, a region having homology with respect to 90% or more of the full length of the amino acid sequence of the protein that is a subject of homology is made to be core, and an ALN gene candidate region is extracted by applying a gene region prediction system ALN with respect to the contig sequence. The ALN predicts a gene region by identifying a splice site while aligning the full length of an amino acid sequence of the protein that is a subject of homology with respect to the contig sequence.

<3> “Extraction of GD Homologous Gene Candidate Region”

Among the BLAST homologous gene candidate regions, a region having homology with respect to 20% or more and less than 90% of the full length of the amino acid sequence of the protein that is a subject of homology is made to be core, and a GD homologous gene candidate region is extracted by applying a gene region prediction system GeneDecoder with respect to the contig sequence. The GeneDecoder predicts a gene region by integrating E-value of BLASTX and statistic amount of 2 series of codons (index of direction of the protein coding region) and further considering a score by a position-dependent primary Markov Model of the splice site.

<4> “Extraction of EST-GD Gene Candidate Region”

As to a region in which gene expression is confirmed by EST corresponding to the contig sequence, by applying GeneDecoder to the contig sequence in the vicinity of the region, not only a gene region determined by EST sequence but also an entire region of gene is predicted. Thus, an EST-GD gene candidate region is obtained.

<5> “Extraction of General GD Gene Candidate Region”

With respect to the contig sequence that is not included in <1> to <4> mentioned above, by applying GeneDecoder, gene a region is predicted.

<6> Extraction of tRNA Gene Candidate Region”

By applying tRNA-scan to the entire contig sequence, a tRNA gene region candidate region is extracted.

<7> “Integration of Gene Candidate Regions”

By the following procedures, gene candidate regions described in the above <2> to <6> are integrated. Firstly, in the gene candidate regions <2> to <6>, a gene region that is expected to have gene regions which are contradictory to the splice site determined by EST are removed. The rest of the gene candidate regions are integrated while excluding the regions overlapped with each other. At this time, tRNA, ALN homologous gene candidate region, GD homologous gene candidate region, GD-EST gene candidate region, general GD gene candidate region are integrated by giving a higher priority in this order. This integrated gene candidate regions are made to be a set of the prediction genes.

By the above-mentioned procedures, from the viewpoint of homology, a gene having homology over the full length of the well-known protein, a gene having homology to a part of the well-known protein, and a gene having no homology to the well-known protein are ensured to be identified with higher reliability in this order. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of confirmation of expression, a gene whose expression is confirmed by EST and a gene whose expression is not confirmed by EST are identified with reliability in this order. Furthermore, all the candidate genes are ensured that they are not contradictory to the splice site identified by EST.

The technique used employs algorithm that is not allowed to contain a stop codon in a protein encoding region, so that there is little possibility of predicting a false gene as a gene.

As to determination of functions, with respect to the predicted gene region, the database Nraa in BLAST is searched for homology, and the function is determined with a sufficient homology (E-value: 10⁻³⁰) as a threshold value.

Example 3 Retrieving for Sequence Encoding Phospholipase A₂

Based on DNA sequence of phospholipase A₂ gene derived from filamentous fungi of Helicosporium sp., BLAST search (Standard protein-protein BLAST: blastp) provided by NCBI was carried out with respect to all DNA sequence of Aspergillus genome DNA. As a result, the present inventors succeeded in finding two regions having high homology to phospholipase A₂ gene derived from filamentous fungi of Helicosporium sp. One of the found regions was a region that had been expected to be a sequence having certain functions in identifying the above-mentioned gene in which the function had not been estimated. Note here that a coding region of the gene (putative phospholipase A2-spaA coding region) is shown in SEQ ID NO: 3. Furthermore, an amino acid sequence encoded by the region is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

On the other hand, another region (sequence) was firstly expected to have a translation function and existed in the sequence whose function had not been estimated. Furthermore, this sequence was firstly expected to encode a protein consisting of 624 amino acid residues being utterly different from those of the amino acid sequence identified this time. However, according to this time investigation, it was found that the sequence encoded 160 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) having higher homology to the amino acid sequence of phospholipase A₂ derived from filamentous fungi. The base sequence encoding the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 (coding region of putative phospholipase A₂-spaB) (a sequence including intron is shown in SEQ ID NO: 4). Note here that such a difference was caused because the intron had not been estimated correctly in the original prediction. Furthermore, by considering the fact that two kinds of phospholipase A₂ genes (GenBank database: ACCESSION NO. NCU06650, NCU09423) existed in Neurospora crassa, the present inventors predicted that another phospholipase A₂ gene other than the aforementioned sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3) existed in a genome sequence of the present invention and investigated based on the prediction. Thus, the present inventors succeeded in finding the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2).

For the purpose of analyzing the function of the two regions (sequences) identified as mentioned above, the following various experiments were conducted.

Example 4 Obtaining Genome DNA

Aspergillus oryzae RIB-40 strain was cultured at 30° C. for two days by using an Erlenmeyer flask containing 200 ml of DPY culture medium (2% dextrin, 1% polypeptone, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.5% KH₂PO₄, 0.05% MgSO₄-7H₂O, pH 5.5). Then, the medium solution was filtrated by using a Buchner funnel and Nutsche suction bottle to obtain fungus bodies. The fungus bodies, which had been frozen with liquid nitrogen, was ground by using a mortar and pestle, added with 20 ml Sol I (50 mM EDTA, 0.5% SDS, 0.1 mg/ml Proteinase K, pH 8.0), and incubated at 50° C. for four hours. Treatment with phenol, treatment with phenol-chloroform and treatment with chloroform were carried out twice, once and once, respectively (centrifugation was carried out at 3,500 rpm, for 15 minutes, at 4° C.). To supernatant, one-tenth amount of 3 M sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and equivalent amount of isopropanol were added and cooled on ice overnight. Centrifugation was carried out at 3,500 rpm for 20 minutes at 4° C., then precipitation was rinsed with 70% ethanol, and then dissolved in TE (10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 1 mM EDTA) solution. Next, RNase A was added so as to be 10 μg/ml and incubation was carried out at 37° C. for 30 minutes. Equivalent amount of phenol-chloroform was added and mixed, followed by centrifugation at 3,500 rpm for 20 minutes at 4° C. to recover the upper layer. One-tenth amount of 3M sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and 2.5 times amount of ethanol was added, followed by centrifugation at 3,500 rpm for 20 minutes at 4° C. to obtain precipitation. This was made into a chromosomal DNA solution.

Example 5 Obtaining Phospholipase A₂ Gene

Based on the sequence information of genome DNA contig of Aspergillus obtained in Example 3, phospholipase A₂-spaA and phospholipase A₂-spaB genes were cloned using a genome DNA of Aspergillus obtained in Example 4 as a template. Primer pair for amplifying a DNA fragment that was expected to be from putative initiation codon to stop codon of respective targeted genes (putative phospholipase A₂-spaA and phospholipase A₂-spaB genes) was designed as follows.

Primer for Phospholipase A₂-spaA Gene:

Ao1724s: 5′-cagcgaattcATGAAGAACATCTTCGTTGC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 9)

Ao1724as: 5′-cagcgaattcCTACAGGTTTTCAATATCGT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 10)

As to phospholipase A₂-spaB gene, assuming that in the gene of the present invention, introns corresponding to the similar positions exist by considering the fact that in two kinds of phospholipase A₂ genes derived from Neurospora crassa (GenBank database: ACCESSION NO. NCU06650, NCU09423), introns are found, respectively, the homology with respect to the amino acid sequence of phospholipase A₂ derived from the other microorganism becomes higher. In consideration of this, primer pair for amplifying the phospholipase A₂-spaB gene was designed as follows.

Primer for Phospholipase A₂-spaB Genes:

Ao0940s: 5′-cagcgaattcATGAAGGCTAACAGCTTTCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 11)

Ao0940as: 5′-gcgcgaattccaaggtctcatatatgtatc-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 12)

Note here that underlines in the above-mentioned four primers show Eco RI recognition sites and capital letters show coding regions of protein, respectively.

By using the above-mentioned primer pairs, PCR was conducted. Note here that the composition of the reaction solution was as follows.

sterile water: 29.75 μl

10× Buffer for rTaq DNA Polymerase: 5 μl

2 mM dNTP solution: 5 μl

10 pmol/μl Ao1724s or Ao0940s: 2.5 μl

10 pmol/μl Ao1724as or Ao0940as: 2.5 μl

60 ng/μl RIB40 genome DNA: 5 μl

5 U/μl rTaq DNA Polymerase (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.): 0.25 μl/50 μl

The above-mentioned reaction solution was subjected to PCR by using PTC-100 type PCR apparatus (MJ Research) under the following conditions.

(1) Reaction at 94° C. for 1 minute, (2) 30 cycles of reactions at 94° C. for 30 seconds, at 50° C. for 30 seconds and at 72° C. for 2 minutes, and (3) allowed to stand at 4° C.

As a result of PCR, about 670 bp and about 700 bp of DNA fragments were specifically amplified. The amplified DNA fragments were extracted by using GeneCleanIII (BIO 101) after carrying out Agarose gel electrophoresis. The extracted DNA fragment was ligated to pT7-Blue (Novagen) and the base sequence was determined by a conventional method.

Example 6 Analysis of Amino Acid Sequence

The analysis of the base sequences obtained in Example 5 reveled that they were sequences of DNA (SEQ ID NO: 3 and 4) encoding a protein having about 35% to about 55% homology to the previously reported amino acid sequence of phospholipase A₂ derived from microorganism. The DNAs were made to be spaA and spaB genes, respectively. A putative phospholipase A₂-spaA encoded by spaA gene consisted of full length 222 amino acids, had the molecular weight excluding the signal sequence region (19 amino acids) predicted by SMART (Schultz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 5857-5864 (1998); Letunic et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 30, 242-244 (2002); http://smart.embl-heidelberg.de/) of 23.4 kDa, and contained six cysteines. On the other hand, a putative phospholipase A₂-spaB encoded by spaB gene consisted of full length 160 amino acids, had the molecular weight excluding the signal sequence region (17 amino acids) predicted by the above-mentioned SMART of 16.4 kDa, and contained four cysteines. Both enzymes had an active center, His-Asp pair sequence, which could be commonly seen in secretion type phospholipase A₂.

Example 7 Construction of Aspergillus Expression Vector pNGspaA

Next, a plasmid pNGspaA for expressing phospholipase A₂-spaA in Aspergillus was constructed. Firstly, the phospholipase A₂-spaA gene cloned to pT7-Blue obtained in Example 5 was digested with restriction enzymes Hind III and Xba I (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.) to obtain about 670 bp DNA fragment as an insert DNA. On the other hand, Aspergillus expression vector pNGA142 having niaD gene derived from Aspergillus as a selection marker, a modified promoter of a modified type glucoamylase gene derived from Aspergillus as a promoter and a terminator of α-glucosidase gene derived from Aspergillus as a terminator (Minetoki et al., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 50, 459-467 (1988)) was digested with Hind III and Xba I (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.). Thereafter, dephosphorylation was carried out with the use of Alkaline Phosphatase (Takara Shuzo Co. Lid.) to obtain a vector DNA. The insert DNA and the vector DNA, which had been prepared as mentioned above, were ligated to each other with the use of Ligation Kit ver.2 (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.), thereby transforming Escherichia coli DH5α strain competent cell (TOYOBO) to obtain an ampicillin resistant transformant. The plasmid carried by the obtained clone was called pNGspaA and used as an expression vector (see FIG. 1).

Example 8 Construction of Aspergillus Expression Vector pNGspaB

Next, a plasmid pNGspaB for expressing phospholipase A₂-spaB in Aspergillus was constructed. Firstly, the phospholipase A₂-spaB gene cloned to pT7-Blue obtained in Example 5 was digested with restriction enzymes Hind III and Xba I (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.) to obtain about 700 bp DNA fragment as an insert DNA. On the other hand, Aspergillus expression vector pNGA142 having niaD gene derived from Aspergillus as a selection marker, a modified promoter of a modified type glucoamylase gene derived from Aspergillus as a promoter and a terminator of α-glucosidase gene derived from Aspergillus as a terminator (Minetoki et al., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 50, 459-467 (1988)) was digested with Hind III and Xba I (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.). Thereafter, dephosphorylation was carried out with the use of Alkaline Phosphatase (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.) to obtain a vector DNA. The insert DNA and the vector DNA, which had been prepared as mentioned above, were ligated to each other with the use of Ligation Kit ver.2 (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.), thereby transforming Escherichia coli DH5α strain competent cell (TOYOBO) to obtain ampicillin resistant transformant. The plasmid carried by the obtained clone was called pNGspaB and used as an expression vector (see FIG. 2).

Example 9 Transformation of Aspergillus

A nitrate reductase deficient strain Aspergillus oryzae niaD300 strain (nitrate reductase deficient mutant of Aspergillus oryzae RIB-40 strain (ATCC 42149), Minetoki et al., Curr. Genet., 30, 432-438 (1996)) was cultured in a dextrin-peptone medium (2% dextrin, 1% polypeptone, 0.5% KH₂PO₄, 0.05% MgSO₄-7H₂O, pH 5.5) with shaking at 30° C. for 3 days. The obtained fungus bodies were washed with sterile water. The fungus bodies were suspended in a cell wall digestion solution [10 mM phosphate buffer solution, pH 6.0, 0.8M NaCl, 20 mg/ml Yatalase (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.)] and gently shaken at 30° C. for 2-3 hours so as to form a protoplast. The obtained protoplast was filtrated with a glass filter so as to remove the remaining fungus bodies.

Next, competent cells were prepared by using this protoplast by a method by Gomi et al. (Agric. Biol. Chem., 51, 323-328 (1987)), and transformed with the use of pNGA142 (control), pNGspaA or pNGspaB so as to obtain transformants that can be grown in a culture medium containing nitrate as a single nitrate source, for example, a Czapek-Dox medium (0.2% NaNO₃, 0.1% KH₂PO₄, 0.2% KCl, 0.05% MgSO₄-7H₂O, 0.002% FeSO₄-7H₂O, 2% glucose, pH 5.5). Four strains of transformants were obtained for each plasmid and 12 strains of transformants were obtained in total. The transformants derived from plasmids pNGA142, pNGspaA and pNGspaB were named vector 1 to vector 4, SpaA-1 to SpaA-4, and SpaB-1 to SpaB4, respectively.

Example 10 Expression of Phospholipase A₂ by Phospholipase A₂-spaA Transformant

The obtained phospholipase A₂-spaA transformant was cultured in the below mentioned DPY culture medium with shaking at 30° C. for 3 days, and the culture solution was centrifuged at room temperature, 10,000×g, for 10 minutes so as to obtain a culture supernatant and fungus bodies. The fungus bodies were ground by the use of MultiBeads Shocker (Yasui Kikai). The resultant suspension was made to be a disrupted fungus suspension.

<DPY Medium>

2% dextrin

1% polypeptone

0.5% yeast extract

0.5% KH₂PO₄

0.05% MgSO₄-7H₂O

pH 5.5

The phospholipase A₂ activities of the resultant culture supernatant and disrupted fungus suspension were measured by the following method. As a result, in particular, in the culture supernatant, remarkably higher phospholipase A₂ activity was confirmed as compared with control strains (i.e., vectors 1 to 4) (FIG. 3). As is apparent from this result, it was demonstrated that the obtained putative phospholipase A₂-spaA gene encoded phospholipase A₂.

(Enzyme Activity Measurement Method of Phospholipase A₂)

The measurement of phospholipase A₂ activity was carried out by a method for measuring the quantity of labeled oleic acid separated from the labeled Escherichia coli membrane in vivo (Elsbach, P., and Weiss, J. (1991) Methods Enzymol. 197, 24-31) added with some modification. That is to say, a reaction solution (final amount of liquid: 100 μl) consisting of Escherichia coli (˜500,000 dpm) that had been labeled with 2.5×10⁸ [³H] oleic acid and then autoclaved, 25 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) and 10 mM CaCl₂ and an enzyme solution was incubated at 30° C. for 30 minutes, 1% bovine serum albumin (w/v), which had been cooled on ice, was added and centrifugation (10,000×g) was carried out immediately after the addition. The radioactivity in the thus obtained supernatant was measured by the use of liquid scintillation counter. The enzyme activity (H-DPM/μg-protein) was calculated based on the counted number (H-DPM) measured under this condition. The Escherichia coli labeled with [³H] oleic acid was prepared by the following method. 100 μl of culture solution of Eshcericia coli DH5α strain that had been cultured in nutrient medium at 37° C. overnight was inoculated in a nutrient medium containing 10 ml of 5 μCi/ml of [³H] oleic acid and incubated at 37° C. for 3 hours. The culture solution was centrifuged (at room temperature, 3,000×g, for 12 minutes) so as to collect fungus bodies. The collected fungus bodies were suspended in 10 ml of fresh medium and incubated at 37° C. for 30 minutes. The fungus bodies were collected by centrifugation (at room temperature, 3,000×g, for 12 minutes), washed with 5 ml of 1% bovine serum albumin (w/v), and finally suspended in an appropriate amount of distilled water at 5×10⁸ cells/ml. Thus, Escherichia coli solution labeled with [³H] oleic acid was obtained.

Example 11 Expression of Phospholipase A₂ by Phospholipase A₂-spaB Transformant

By carrying out culturing and treatment after culturing similar to Example 10 using Phospholipase A₂-spaB transformant, culture supernatant and disrupted fungus suspension of phospholipase A₂-spaB transformant were obtained. As compared with the case of phospholipase A₂-spaA transformant, the growth of transformant was remarkably inhibited. This was thought to be because a large amount of phospholipase A₂-spaB were expressed, resulting in inhibiting the fungus bodies.

Similar to the case of phospholipase A₂-spaA, the phospholipase A₂ activities of the obtained culture supernatant and disrupted fungus suspension were measured. As a result, in particular, in the disrupted fungus suspension, remarkably higher phospholipase A₂ activity was confirmed as compared with control strains (i.e., vectors 1 to 4) (FIG. 3). As is apparent from this result, it was demonstrated that the obtained putative phospholipase A₂-spaB gene encoded phospholipase A₂.

Example 12 Purification of Phospholipase A₂ Expressed by Phospholipase A₂-spaA Transformant

20 ml of culture supernatant of phospholipase A₂-spaA transformant obtained in Example 10 was diluted ten times with a 25 mM Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.4), then subjected to CM-cellulose column chromatography that had been equilibrated with 25 mM Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.4) and eluted with the use of the same buffer solution containing 0.1M, 0.25M, 0.5M and 1.0M NaCl by stepwise-gradient elution. Each eluate (10 μl) was subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and stained with Coomassie brilliant blue. As a result, elution fraction at the NaCl concentration of 0.5-1.0 M, a single band of molar weight of about 16 kDa was detected (FIG. 4). The phospholipase A₂ activity of resultant non-adsorption fraction of 0.25M NaCl, 0.5M NaCl and 1.0M NaCl was measured. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the activity was found in 0.5M and 1.0M NaCl fraction. In the meanwhile, the activity hardly detected in non-adsorption and 0.25M NaCl fraction. Consequently, it was demonstrated that protein of molar weigh of 16 kDa eluted in the 0.5M and 1.0M NaCl fraction was phospholipase A₂.

The present invention is not particularly limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and descriptions of Examples of the present invention. Variations which are within the scope of the following claims and to which a person skilled in the art can achieve easily are also included in the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides phospholipase A₂ derived from Aspergillus and DNA encoding the same. By using the DNA of the present invention, a production system of phospholipase A₂ using safer filamentous fungi was constructed. 

1-17. (canceled)
 18. Phospholipase A₂ consisting of a protein selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (d): (a) a protein having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) a protein having an amino acid sequence obtained by modifying a part of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and functioning as phospholipase A₂; (c) a protein having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2; and (d) a protein having an amino acid sequence obtained by modifying a part of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, and functioning as phospholipase A₂.
 19. A DNA selected from the group consisting of the following (A) and (B): (A) a DNA encoding phospholipase A₂ described in claim 1; and (B) a DNA which hybridizes under stringent conditions to the DNA described in (A) and encodes a protein functioning as phospholipase A₂.
 20. A DNA according to claim 2, having any one of the following sequences (i) to (vi): (i) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; (ii) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (iii) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5; (iv) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6; (v) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7; and (vi) a base sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 8. 21. A vector carrying the DNA according to claim
 2. 22. A vector carrying the DNA according to claim
 3. 23. Filamentous fungi into which the DNA according to claim 2 is exogenously introduced.
 24. Filamentous fungi into which the DNA according to claim 3 is exogenously introduced.
 25. A method for producing phospholipase A₂, the method comprising the following steps (1) and (2): (1) a step of culturing the filamentous fungi according to claim 6 under conditions where a protein encoded by the DNA can be produced; and (2) a step of recovering the produced protein.
 26. A method for producing phospholipase A₂, the method comprising the following steps (1) and (2): (1) a step of culturing the filamentous fungi according to claim 7 under conditions where a protein encoded by the DNA can be produced; and (2) a step of recovering the produced protein. 